Interlock



March 22, .1932n f J. P. MANYPENNY 1,850,761

INTERLOGK l Filed July 19, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 1` March 22, 1932. J. P. MANYPENNY INTERLOCK Filed July 19, v192s 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Mar'. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES PATEN JOSEPH P. MANYPENNY, OF BERWYN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB T0 PHILIP HBTLEY v omen, or iam-cYNwYD, PENNSYLVANIA INmEnLoox Application led July 19,

This invention` relates to interlocks, and

to interlocks for use in connection with switches or similarly operated apparatus.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted theprovision of a simplified and improved form of interlock for permitting only one or more members to be brought into a predetermined position while a rema1ning one or more members remain in a locked position. Other objects will be in part obviousand in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises .the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated several of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail vshowing" the end of a sliding member;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation showing another form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 4;

Fig. is a cross section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 4, showing in dotted lines an alternate position;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail of another on line I' sliding member of the Fig. 4 form; and,

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating another form of the invention.-

Similar reference characters indicatek corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Y Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 there are illustrated, by way of example, a plrality of switch handle supports 1, each having a lower hinge 3 for hinging a switch handle 5 and each support 1 having an upper extension 7' for engagement with suitable catches on the respectivehandles. The catches 1929. Serial N0. 379,400.

are operable to release by operation of suitable release buttons 9 located on the handles. Inasmuch as these catches and/or buttons form no part of this invention per se, they will not be further detailed.

As is known, switch handles such as 5 are used to operate switches and the like by way of suitable linkages which are fastened to said handles. For instance, these linkages may be connected. as through openings 1.1-1. However, the invention hereinafter vrdescribed is not to be limited to handles for operating switches only, but should be construed to include handles for operating other devicessuch as valves and the like. In any case, oneobject is to provide means whereby any one or more yof the handles can be operated, whereas the other or others are then locked'. I

In the present embodiment the interlock per se comprisesl an interlock su porting rod 13 held to end brackets 15. Slida ly arranged on the supporting rod 13 are locking'sleeves 17. These sleeves 17 have a length which is determined by the number and thicknesses of certain sliding lkey members 19 which it is desired to control.

Each sliding key member 19t is loosely and pivotally attached to its respective operating lever 5 and each is provided with a round hole 21 through which thesleeves 17 are adapted to slide. Certain -of the sleeves for supportv ing purposes are also slidably mounted in openings 23 of mid-brackets 25. Each ofthe holes 21 is provided with an extending Slot 27 which is adaptedto slidably receive thefjrod 13 but not the sleeves 17. Each ofthe holes 21 is suitably beveled or roundedffasare-t'he ends of the sleeves 17. f

-As forecast above, sleeves 17 is such that when apredetermine'dl number of the handles are thrust forwardly, then the slots 27 in passing over the* rod 13 ,will lresult in'forcing aside the contiguous sleeves 17 such that a predetermined other number of handles will be prevented from operating. In the present embodiment when two of the switch handles. are thrown forwardly when the other one is prevented' from being thrown forwardly, .because` the interposition of the' thicknesses ofthe two thrown the Atotal length bf aie A 'Iov key members 19 into the total length of the sleeves 17 results in closing the gap which would otherwise rmit operation of the now locked handle.` lay at the connections 2 between the members 5 and 19 permits of proper interaction between the lock and key members.

My invention includes arranging members slidably end to end, with abutments near key members such as 19, there being enough play between the slidable members to accommodate some but not all of the keg7 members. In the embodiment above descri edthe key members comprise the female portions and the sleeves 17 the male portions. I will next describe an alternative form of the invention in which the character of these parts is reversed.

l key members 35, which are Referring more particularl to Fig. 9, wherein the parts to be locked or clarity are not shown, there is illustrated at numeral 29 an enclosed box-like construction adapted to be fastened to supports such as indicated at numeral 1. This box-like member 29 slidably supports blocks 31 which also abut one another near openings 33. The purpose of the openings 33 is to permit introduction of in this case in the form of male elements. As in the first form, the amount of free space permitted between the slidable members 31 is such as to rmit introduction of two of the male memrs 35, whereas the other is then prevented from entry. The other key member may be introduced if one of the members already inserted is withdrawn. It will be noted that the blocks 31 are beveled at the abutting portions, as are the ends of the key members 35. It is to be understood that in the Fig. 9 form of the invention, the key members 35 are attached to the switch `operating linkages or handles in a manner analogous to that shown in Fig. 1. It will be seen that the function of this interlock in the present embodiment is to permit, say, closing of only two switches out of three, the two comprising any combination desired. Furthermore, all of the switches may be put into open position at any time or only a single one may be closed at any time. p

In Figs. 4 to 8 is shown anotherrform of the invention in which are used supports 41 having extensions 43 the latter being provided with cylindrical bosses 4-5. Between the bosses are held cylindrical bearing supports 47 slidably supporting movable lock rods 49 formed lengthwise in respect to stationary p lock rods 51. The lock rods have a len which is determined by the thicknesses of sliding key members 53 which it is desired to control. y

Each sliding key member 453 is pivotally attached to its respective operating lever 55', as illustrated at numeral 57 the pivoting being accomplished by a connection which permits of some sideward motion. Each key member 53 is provided with a round hole or recess 59, cha-mfered as shown, for permitting at least partial entry of the ends of the lock rods 49. The key members 53 are positioned where the ends of the lock rods are juxtaposed, and at this point pass through lateral opening 61 in the c lindrical portions 65. The openin s 61, as i lustrated in Fig. 7, are wide enoug to permit an lar as well as translatory movement of t e key members 53. Limiting stops 63 are axed at the ends of the key members 53 to prevent said key members from being pulled out entirely.

It will be seen that the total length of the lock rods 49, 51 is such that when a predetermined number of handles are thrust forwardly (two in the present embodiment), then the other key member is located in its open position. If said last key member does not happen to be in its open position, then it will be possible to throw only one of the otherlkey members into closed position. That is to say, when two switches are closed the other cannot be closed. As shown in Fig. 8, suitable chamfering is used at the openings 59 to facilitate action, the lateral motion available at the connections 57 further facilitating the action.

It will be seen that the form last described is a similar construction to that shown in Fig. 1, as far asthe locking members are concerned, suitable modifications being made in the key members. In this form the locking members comprise the male portions and the keys the female portions.

-It is apparent that the principle herein set out may be applied to a greater number of switches or other devices, for instance, any predetermined number of switches out of any predetermined greater number of switches may be operable to a redetermined position such as closed, there y locking the others from attainment to that position but permitting all of the switches to be put into the opposed positions. Also, any number of switches may be closed comprising less than the predetermined number adapted to effeet a com lete interlock.

It will apparent from the above that according to this invention there need not necessarily be one more abutted slidable member than there are key members. Another handle could be located at each end of the string of slidable members, between the respective end member and the holding suport. A

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is in tended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An interlock comprising a hollow member, rods mounted within the hollow member, at least some of said rods being slidable, a predetermined amount of play at the abutments between the rods, key members laterally slidable through the hollow member at the abutments, sa1d key members having recesses accommodating the rods at least in part. n

2. An interlock comprising a hollow member, rods mounted within the hollow member,

at least some of said rods being slidable, a predetermined amount of play at the abutments between the rods, key members laterally.slidable through the hollow member at 2 the abutments, said key members having recesses accommodating the rods at least in partandlmeans for moving the keys, a loose connection between the keys and said lastnamed means, the play beneath the rods bein 2 5- of. a magnitude permitting application o only less than the whole number of keys in a given direction. p

3. Aninterlock comprising a hollow member, rods mounted'within the hollow member, at least some of said rods being slidable,

a predetermined amount of play at the abutments' between the rods, key members laterally slidable through the hollow member at the abutment-s, said key members having recesses accommodating the rods at least .in A

part vand said play being of a magnitude adapted to permit application of any plurality but less than the whole number of key members. 40 4. An interlock comprising..anstationary-` member, abutting slidable members supported thereby, said. s'lidable members having a predeterminedamount of play at the abutments therebetweenfapertured key members near the abutments, means adapted to support and to insert saidkey mem ers between said slidable members at theabutments, any key member located between adjacent slidable members being loosely mounted for 0 movement in the direction of movement of said slidable members, said pla'y being of a magnitude adapted to permit application of any plurality but lessfthan the whole number of key members. In testimony whereof, I have signed m galrlne tgmghis specification this 15th day of 1 y JOSEPH P. MANYPENNY. 

